In this article, I’d like to present the physical fitness tests that everyone has to pass each year not only in the French Foreign Legion, but generally in the French Army. It will allow you to compare a French soldier’s physical fitness level to yours.
How it works?
In a nutshell, you have a general fitness check called CCPG (Contrôle de la condition physique générale) and has 2 different parts:
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The CCPS (contrôle de la condition physique spécifique)
- 8km running in uniform and boots
- shooting test with HK416 or FAMAS
CCPM (Contrôle de la condition physique du militaire)
- Cardio-respiratory endurance: 2,400 m run as fast as you can
- Swimming test: 15m freediving + 85m freestyle
- General muscular capacity: push-ups
A video made by 2°REI of the new CCPM
Sport test scale
| Points | 2400m running | Swimming | Push-ups |
| 20 | 8’45” | 1’30” | 50 |
| 19 | 9’00” | 1’39” | 47 |
| 18 | 9’15” | 1’48” | 44 |
| 17 | 9’30” | 1’57” | 41 |
| 16 | 9’45” | 2’06” | 38 |
| 15 | 10’00” | 2’15” | 35 |
| 14 | 10’15” | 2’24” | 32 |
| 13 | 10’30” | 2’33” | 29 |
| 12 | 10’45” | 2’42” | 28 |
| 11 | 11’00” | 2’51” | 26 |
| 10 | 11’15” | 15m freediving + 85 swimming | 25 |
| 9 | 11’30” | 23 | |
| 8 | 11’45” | > ou = at 10m freediving <15m freediving and finishes | 22 |
| 7 | 12’00” | 5m> ou = freediving <10m and finishes the test | 20 |
| 6 | 12’15” | 5m < freediving and finish the test | 19 |
| 5 | 12’30’ | 17 | |
| 4 | 12’45” | 15m freediving but doesn’t finish the test | 16 |
| 3 | 13’00” | > or = at 10m freediving <15m apnea and don’t finish the test | 14 |
| 2 | 13’15” | 5m> ou = freediving <10m and doesn’t finish the test | 13 |
| 1 | 13’30” | 11 |
When do you pass these tests?
You’ll pass them 3 times during the basic trainings in Castel and once a year at least in your regiment. The results counts for everyone during the basic trainings and are very important. You need to get good results if you want to choose your regiment at the end of your 4 months long holiday in Castel.
What happens if I fail the test?
The CCPM classification is carried out on a value scale comprising five levels. You failed if you have less than 31 points in the three tests. Here is the scale:
- 5: from 51 points to 60 points;
- 4: from 41 points to 50 points;
- 3: from 31 points to 40 points;
- 2: from 21 points to 30 points;
- 1: 20 points or less.
An example: my result in 2400m is 9’25 (17 points), swimming 1’52” (17 points) and I made 45 push-ups (18 points). My final result is 52 points, which means I got a 5.
The result you get will count for your yearly appreciation, called notation in French. If you have a bad notation, everyone is going to get in higher rank before you. So you can end up in a situation where your comrades, you did the basic trainings with, are going to have you make push-ups and mop.
Physical fitness is very important.
Any legionnaire can build a career not on school diplomas or professional or civilian qualifications, but by taking military or technical examinations throughout his service. If you have good potential, if you are motivated, hard working and serious, the following careers are possible. 25% of legionnaires will become the non-commissioned officers ( N.C.O. ). All NCOs in the Legion started as simple legionnaires (except for a few NCOs from the French Army, assigned to some regiments as well-trained specialists).
Tnx so much for this information appreciate it with all my future and very helpful.
I want to be a army
Hey, Im curious about that I have to do the push ups in 1 row or can I rest while standing on arms for a while (4-5 sec).
Yeah i would love to come to join army after lockdown . i would be really great if i could join your force hope if i can visit france for this requirement for your army .
I want know about shuttle beeps test and IQ test
You can download the shuttle bleep test from the Google Play Store and the French Foreign Legion app, which will have most of the IQ test in it.
If you don’t know what a bleep test; it is a test of cardio-muscular endurance capability = it will tell you and the judge of your fitness level. The test is based on fast running, 20 meters in length and you have to run back and forth after each bleep. Gradually the level goes up and it will tell you. Whichever level you fail on, that particular level is your fitness standard. For more information look it up on youtube.
As for the IQ test, it is based on none lingual, mathematics capabilities, meaning it is not language-based nor do you have to be good at math. Rather, it tests your ability to comprehend, remember, and solve problems in regards to numbers and numbers sequences.
I am not in any way shape or form associated with the French Foreign Legion, thus my comments are of my own experience and knowledge.
P.S good luck, don’t give up and never give in.
Thanks for your comment, it helps me a lot mate
About the swimming test. Do you have to be good at swimming or you have to show them that you’re not scared of water even though you don’t know much of swimming?
As you can see on the scale if you are able to do 15 m freediving + 85 m freestyle you will have 10/20 so yes they are more trying to see if you are scared or not of water and they will train and help you if you are bad at swimming. However don’t go if you can’t swim 15 meters. And if you are bad in swimming it will be hard getting in the paratroopers regiment. I wish you the best brother.
Years ago there use to be a list of recommend exercises to do before attempting to join the legion. Is that list still around?
The CCPS (contrôle de la condition physique spécifique)
8km running in uniform and boots
shooting test with HK416 or FAMAS
is shooting test compulsory? i am a new aspirant for joining french foreign legion
From memory it’s 1.8 km of running not 1.8 miles. The IQ test was predominately questions on visual spatial reasoning, much more than verbal or mathematical logic. Also they had other visual memory tests – one was the classic with a tray with objects that you had to memorise in a short amount of time, then write down everything you could recall. This was 20 years ago, but knowing the French I wouldn’t be suprised if little has changed in Aubagne.